Nine service members were killed during a routine training mission over Kentucky, an Army spokesperson said Thursday.
Crew members from the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell flew two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that crashed late Wednesday night over Trigg County, the public affairs officer said.
The spokesperson said the helicopters were flying a “multi-ship formation under night vision goggles” prior to the crash.
No further details were provided.
The following is from Reuters:
During a congressional hearing in Washington, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth spoke about the crash.
“Thank you for your comments and thoughts and prayers for the families of our soldiers who were killed in the crash. Our hearts go out to them,” Wormuth told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “It’s a heavy day for the Army.”
Kentucky Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear traveled to Fort Campbell “to support our troops and their families after last night’s tragic incident,” he wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
The weather in Fort Campbell area, which straddles the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, featured clear skies and calm winds on Wednesday night, according to National Weather Service forecaster Marc Chenard.